Measurement of transition probabilities of La II using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Atomic data, such as transition probabilities of heavy elements, holds great importance in astrophysical studies. The analysis of optical and infrared IR emissions, specifically kilonovae following neutron star mergers, requires transition probabilities of the bound–bound transitions for the heavy elements involved. According to previous studies, heavy metals, particularly lanthanides such as La and Ce, contribute to the properties of the emission. However, the current databases, such as the Atomic Spectra Database at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, are incomplete, particularly for heavy elements. Therefore, we evaluate and measure the transition probabilities of lanthanide elements using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, which is an atomic emission spectroscopic technique based on optical emission from a laser-generated plasma. In this study, we present the transition probabilities for La II lines. The experimentally obtained transition probabilities are compared with existing data.